Roadshow: Highway 85 messes, current and predicted

Q I strongly object to what I consider the removal of a lane of Highway 85 north that I've been able to use for as long as it has existed.

Mark Thorpe

Sunnyvale

A The removal of what?

Q I live north of the Fremont Avenue ramp in Sunnyvale, and I suspect the closest entry point to the planned express lane will be at the 280/85 interchange, which will likely mean that when I get on 85, there will never be a legal way for me to enter the carpool lane. That could mean I'll be stuck in the right two lanes and the horrible traffic tie-ups at 237.

Mark Thorpe

A Plans are still being developed but two entry points will likely be at Fremont Avenue and Evelyn Avenue, which most likely will be your entry point. The VTA is wrapping up the environmental review process and you should mark this on your calender. Saratoga will host a workshop on the Highway 85 express lane project next Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Joan Pisani Community Center Room at 19655 Allendale Ave.

The project would convert about 27 miles of carpool lanes into toll lanes that solo drivers could use for a fee. And it would add a second express lane on Highway 85 between I-280 and Highway 87.

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Q I'm hoping that something is in the works to fix the atrocious exit from Highway 85 to 237 at El Camino. This single exit backs up traffic on 85 all the way back to 280 every morning. The entrance of traffic from El Camino onto 85 comes in directly at the exit to 237, which blocks the exit from 85 to El Camino. The biggest mess maker is the narrow ramp from 85 to 237, which curves like a snake. Traffic ends up stopped, even though there is zero traffic on 237! Any fixes planned?

A Yep. But plans are in the pre-construction stage, and it will be some time before new ramps are built and this major headache is eased.

Q I got tired of sitting in the traffic on Highway 85 and bought an electric bike after I discovered the bike route on the Stevens Creek Trail.

I rode it happily for weeks before I was stopped by a park ranger. He told me that it is illegal to ride an electric (assisted or not and even if it cannot go over 15 mph) bike on the Mountain View part of the trail and that Mountain View has its own set of rules on this. Is this true? It doesn't make sense to me.

Maneesh Pawar

A It's true. Mountain View does not allow motorized bicycles on its parks, pathways or recreation facilities.

Q Can San Jose synchronize the lights on Aborn Road from Ruby Road to Capitol Expressway? On some days, I can hit every light on the way to 101. It is not good for the environment, gas mileage, the car or our mental health.

Jason Xu

San Jose

A The segment along Aborn from White Road to Brigadoon Way is synchronized to favor westbound traffic from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and eastbound from 3:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Outside of these times, signals operate based on demand.